MR Brierley, manager of the Frankston Gas and Electric Supply Works, has had a long and varied experience in his profession, but it remained to Frankston to provide him with something altogether out of the ordinary.
All Tuesday night he and his staff had been endeavoring to find the cause of the block in the electric light current serving Melbourne Road and part of Frankston.
He was expecting to find that a stray branch or twig was causing the damage, but the search was fruitless.
It was not until daylight next morning that he found the cause of the obstruction.
It turned out to be nothing less than a ring tailed possum. The animal had its tail tightly coiled round one wire, and its body balanced on the other.
It was quite dead of course and practically burned in two.
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THE Wattle Club will entertain a large party of returned soldiers at Frankston on Saturday (today.)
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A.I.F. Commemorative. Badges – as is notified by the military authorities that application forms for the commemorative badges that are to be issued to the nearest female relatives of soldiers who have died on active service are now available at all postoffices.
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OWING to the absence on holidays of Rev E. Tonkin, the Methodist Church services at Frankston will be conducted by the Rev. D. Morris B.A.
The evening services throughout the circuit being in the open air begin at about 7 p.m.
Rev. H. Worrall, president, has notified the indefinite postponement of the Methodist Annual Conference on account of the pneumonic influenza epidemic.
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M. Paul Thomsen and M. Adolf Hodee, the French Labor Delegates, are to visit Brighton on Friday afternoon.
They will be entertained by Councillor W. P. Francis, the Mayor, and Councillors at the Town Hall, and will afterwards inspect the nurseries of Messrs Cheeseman and Company.
It would perhaps be interesting to the visitors if a tour through Somerville was arranged for them.
They should certainly have the pleasure of inspecting the “Two Bays” Nurseries.
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MR Chas. E. Copsey, the new licensee of the Hotel Somerville took, charge last week.
Mr Copsey comes to the district with a fine record, and a thorough knowledge of his business.
He has been vice-president of the Licensed Victuallers Association and formerely conducted hotels in both South Melbourne and Carlton.
The high reputation of the Hotel Somerville should be still further enhanced under his management.
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AT a meeting of the committee held at the Mechanics’ Institute on Friday night last an interim balance sheet in connection with the gymkhana recently held at Frankston in aid of the local Repatriation Fund was presented.
There were present: Councillor W. J. Oates (chairman) Cr. W. P. Mason, (treasurer, ) Major Condor and Messrs Jennings, T. Ritchie, C. Gray, H. McComb, S. Lawrey, W. C. Young and T, J. McMurtrie (hon. sec.)
A highly satisfactory statement of accounts was presented for the information of the members, but as the receipts were still incomplete the publication of details will not be made till a later date.
It may be stated, however, that the net profit of the effort will amount to over £380.
The Chairman congratulated the committee on the result and remarked on the generosity of Major Condor who had returned the prize money won by him to the credit of the fund.
The Major interposed that the credit should be given to the Langwarrin Military Camp and not to himself.
The hon. secretary (Mr McMurtrie) gave details as to the disposal of the pony which had been raffled, and it was resolved unanimously on the motion of Mr Gray seconded by Mr McComb that the Secretary’s action in connection there with be endorsed.
The meeting also commended the secretary for writing to Mr White of Kirkpatrick’s. Hotel, Mornington, acknowledging with thanks sale of raffle tickets in his quarter which realised £18 11s 0d and expressing appreciation of the efforts of the various contributors.
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HEARD in the Train.
That a number of offenders were dealt with at the Mornington Police Court last week charged with driving without lights and were each fined 5s. and 2s 6d costs.
That Hastings intends holding a grand gymkhana on Easter Saturday in aid of Soldiers Memorial Fund.
That the influenza epidemic is on the wane. That billiard rooms are to re-open theatres and hotels to remain closed.
That sportsmen had a good days sport on the opening of the duck season on Saturday.
That within 12 months from now the whole of the original scheme in connection with the Peninsula water supply will be completed.
That Mornington claims first consideration in the matter of reticulation on the grounds that they were the originators of the scheme.
That the Frankston Avenue of Honor requires attention in the matter of clearing rubbish from the trees and strengthening the fences.
Than Mr C. Wood, who has been assigned the duty of advising local business people when Frankston soldiers are arriving in the town would be glad if parents or friends would inform him as to probable dates soldiers are expected home.
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THE Peninsula in common with the rest of the State benefitted consider ably by the splendid rains experienced at the beginning of the week.
Dairymen, orchardists and farmers generally were beginning to look grave as week after week passed without sign of change in the weather conditions, which have been exceptionally dry since about September last.
Dairymen throughout the Shire who reported a serious falling off in milk supply owing to shortage of water and suitable feed are delighted at the change while orchardists are equally pleased.
The average fall has been about three inches spread over nearly every area in the State.
An authority speaking on the subject said that wheat farmers are particularly jubilant as they will now be able to work up some of their new land for seeding for the new crop in April.
With judicious cultivation a great deal of rain that has fallen can be conserved for the use of the coming wheat crop.
So far as root crops and the dairy industry are concerned, the rain has brought a wonderful change in prospects.
A failure in the root crops threatened owing to the extremely dry weather, but while the rain has been late it is very welcome.
In the dairy districts south of the Dividing Range, Gippsland, and the Western District, the downpour should make a great improvement.
In regard to the pastoral outlook the rain has come rather early for the production of grass.
If a spell of hot weather follows it will kill any grass that may spring up as a result of the rain, but if further falls occur in a few weeks the good effect on the pastoral industry will be very considerable indeed.
Except in the case of Mildura, which is independent of rain to a large extent, the fruit industry will benefit.
One authority states that the rainfall has been the salvation of the situation as far as vines are concerned. The trees have suffered very severly from the dry weather, but the rain will restore them to their normal condition.
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From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 22 February 1919